Burundi's army launched an offensive against rebel positions in the east of the country despite a resumption of ceasefire implementation talks with the insurgents, officials said Thursday.
Troops attacked National Liberation Forces (FNL) rebels in Mbare and Gasarara, five kilometres (three miles) east of the capital Bujumbura, local administrator Maximilien Ngendakuriyo told AFP.
Army spokesman Adolphe Manirakiza said there were no casualties yet and the operations was still ongoing.
"The army invaded Mbare and Gasara to uproot FNL fighters who are terrorising residents," Manirakiza said.
The attack was the heaviest by the army since the talks on the implementation of a 2006 ceasefire resumed on Monday.
A diplomat close to the negotiations said cessation of hostilities will be discussed next week.
"For the moment, we are still trying to build confidence between the two sides," the diplomat said on condition of anonymity.
Burundi is struggling to recover from civil unrest which erupted in 1993 and killed an estimated 300,000 people.
